Introduction Numerous preparations of intravenous (IV) fluid are available for the replacement of perioperative fluid losses in patients undergoing major surgery. The selection of a specific fluid may be influenced…
Introduction Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common phenomenon encountered by anesthesiologists in the operating room and intensive care unit (ICU) setting. It is also a feared complication of…
Introduction/Background The hemostatic system consisting of platelets, procoagulant and anticoagulant, and fibrinolytic and antifibrinolytic activities plays a key role in the maintenance of human viability. It achieves hemostatic balance by…
Introduction Glucocorticoids were introduced into clinical practice in 1949 with the release of a purified preparation known as cortisone. The treatment was revolutionary for patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (AI)…
Introduction Perioperative blood loss is a common problem faced by anesthesiologists and surgeons. There is no substitute for proper surgical technique, but anesthesiologists have several ways in which they can…
Introduction The prevalence of diabetes in American society is increasing, and data for the year 2011 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that 25.8 million people,…
Introduction Blood transfusions are common. In 2009, approximately 15 million units of red blood cells were transfused in the United States. Between 60% and 70% of all red blood cell…
Introduction A broad variety of techniques and modes of mechanical ventilation is now available to physicians, thanks to improvements in technology. For the most part, the design of these techniques…
Introduction A growing number of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are performed outside the operating room. This increase is especially noticeable in the field of gastroenterology. There is an ever increasing…
Introduction Pulmonary complications remain common after many surgical procedures, particularly those involving the upper abdomen or thorax. Procedures that involve resection of lung tissue carry an even higher risk of…
